In 1968 the Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago. Protests, confrontation, arrests and ensuing trial, tested the legal and political processes. The Chicago Conspiracy Trial of 1969-1970 was a challenge to the American justice system. This exhibit examines one juror’s experiences, reflected through her journals, and the lasting impact of the trial on her and her family.
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The one hundred year anniversary of the opening of the Edgewater Beach
Hotel is being celebrated with an exhibit at the Edgewater Historical Society and Museum. The exhibit will be open on weekends from 1 to 4 p.m. Come prepared to learn about this fabulous hotel that put Edgewater on the map by surfing our website.
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The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

The books to be discussed are:
“When Public Housing was Paradise” By J. S. Fuerst, “The Poorhouse: Subsidized Housing in Chicago” By Devereaux Bowley, and “Highrisers: Cabrini-Green and the Fate of American Public Housing” By Ben Austen.

How Edgewater and the North Lakefront’s Demographics Have Changed in the Past Half Century

Edgewater and Chicago’s larger north lakefront have undergone dramatic economic and demographic shifts over the past half century. What are the driving forces behind these changes and what do they portend for the area’s future? Join Rob Paral, Chicago’s keenest demographic observer, for a lively and thought-provoking examination of who we are as a community, where we’ve been and where we are going.

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

The books to be discussed are:
“Fighting Jane: Mayor Jane Byrne and the Chicago Machine” By Bill Granger and Lori Granger, “Brass: Jane Byrne and the Pursuit of Power” By Kathleen Whalen FitzGerald, and “My Chicago” By Jane Byrne.

Did you know Edgewater’s first permanent settlers were Luxembourgers who had a
farm where Senn High School is? Outside of Luxembourg itself, Chicago is the largest
center of Luxembourgers in the world. Kevin Wester, retired executive director of the Luxembourger American Cultural Society, will give a wide-ranging overview on how immigrants from one of Europe’s smallest nations had a big impact on Chicago.
Click here for a flyer. The program is free to the Public and refreshments will be served.

Update: The Edgewater Historical Society’s July lecture on how the Luxembourgers changed Chicago drew a large crowd, including the writer for the Chicago Reader, who published this report.

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

The books to be discussed are:
“Chicago Comedy” by Margaret Hicks, “The Second City” by Sheldon Patinkin, and “The Second City Unscripted” by Mike Thomas.

Join your neighbors again this year, on warm summer nights, for our popular community program of free live performances. From July 10 to August 28, 2019, every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., different local musicians will entertain you in the beautiful EHS garden. Refreshments will be served. We are pet friendly! All are welcome. Click here for the 2019 schedule.

You are cordially invited to attend the formal induction of Tricia Van Eck, Ginger Williams, Jack Markowski and Pat Sharkey into the Living Treasures of Edgewater, for outstanding service to the Edgewater community.

Click here for more information about the Edgewater Living Treasures program.

We welcome you to the Edgewater Historical Society website. Here you will find information about the Society and its Museum, including current exhibits and upcoming events or tours. There is also a searchable archive of newsletter articles and tour booklets going back to 1988. If you have comments or questions, please use the “Contact us” button above.